(live here in the sea) - On Friday (11/11/22), even before the sun rose, 13 male and female swimmers lined up on the beach of the city of Acre, the task - to swim across the Gulf, or as the original name of the task "The Gulf Challenge". The 13 were chosen from among 170 interested parties who expressed a desire to succeed.
Swimming across the bay (Photo: Zvi Roger) ► Watch
open water
The social ointment is initiated by Hami Tamari, one of the thousands of swimmers who crowd the shores of the country every morning, a movement that was reserved for dozens has become a real phenomenon of swimming in the open water. A phenomenon that even overshadows the achievements of competitive Israeli swimmers (see Matan Roditi's fourth place at the Tokyo Olympics). Age and gender do not change, the connections between swimmers, young and old from the golden age, is based on the love for the great blue - the sea.
"Crazy to talk"
This is how this sport grows stronger and is swept away by interested people who become "crazy for talking" and flock to the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea and the Sea of Galilee and even go on challenges abroad. And why the Gulf Challenge? Because they haven't done it yet or rather because they are? Confused?
Ohad Cohen's number:
"The mishka is a dream come true for me. My father, Yossi Cohen, told me in my childhood about this mishka who swam as part of the sailing in 1955 (see the certificate). He taught me to swim in the sea with fins. He is the one who taught me the secrets of the sea and instilled in me a great love for the sea. The mishka This is full circle for me. I hope he's proud of me up there."
When Tamri's mother-in-law contacted Hadar Ben Dror, who is known as the mother of the industry in Israel and leads most of the anointing in Israel, he mentioned the fact that the navy soldiers usually sail the Gulf, but with fins. "It all sounds very challenging and this year we decided to carry out a promulgation for the coming years. We all know the budgetary problem in the Haifa municipality, everyone wanted to help, but in the end we were assisted by only one sponsor (the insurance giant Count) and thanks to the volunteer spirit of sailors from the Haifa Sailing Club and members of my safety team We set out on a mission."
An amazing team
Ben Dror added that this is an event suitable for 100 swimmers: "We tested the ability and experience of each of them and put together an amazing team, from Mein Yahav to Meshgav, they came from all over the country. I had the privilege of accompanying them."
keep the sea
The challenge spread over 12.6 kilometers included crossing the sailing lane of the entrance to the harbor and refueling stops, where the swimmers were able to get drinks and energy supplements. After 5 hours, the group set foot on Bat Galim beach in Haifa. Hami Tamari wanted to emphasize that one of the reasons he wanted to organize the parade was to increase awareness of the preservation of the sea. and added that he hopes that towards 2023 the authorities will help to hold the anointing and the purposes for which it was dedicated.
At the end of the swim, the swimmers said: "Mission accomplished! Where do you register for the Gulf Challenge 2023?"
the hysteria
The distance is 12.6 and not 6.12 as written by mistake.
Noam the swimmer in the cover photo
My father-in-law, every time you surprise with a new sale, you don't have to!
What champions, especially the Sharks team from Palamhim
You stole some 7 km of swimming from us - the distance from Acre to Haifa in a straight line is 12.6 km in actuality, we swam a little more...